Samvel Shahramanyan, the last president of Artsakh, was summoned to Armenia’s Investigative Committee as a witness in the ongoing case involving former Tavush Diocese leader Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan and his associates.

Before the questioning, Shahramanyan told reporters he did not know why he had been called in again. “We’re not aware of the case we’re summoned for. We’ll appear, and the lawyer will comment afterward,” he said, according to RFE/RL.

The questioning lasted more than an hour. Afterward, his lawyer, Rafael Jhangiryan, confirmed that the interrogation was indeed related to the criminal case involving Archbishop Bagrat. However, citing a non-disclosure agreement tied to the pre-trial secrecy, he declined to provide further details, only noting that Shahramanyan’s status as a witness remained unchanged.

The investigation concerns alleged terrorism and an attempt to usurp power, with Archbishop Bagrat and 17 of his supporters formally charged. A portion of the case was separated and sent to court four months ago, but the main investigation is ongoing, and Shahramanyan was questioned in this context.

Although law enforcement previously released documents and photos they claimed showed a “coup plan,” Shahramanyan’s name was not among those listed. However, he had publicly interacted with Аrchbishop Bagrat during the latter’s anti-government protest campaign last year, and was even gifted a vehicle by the clergyman.

That same vehicle, which had previously served as Shahramanyan’s official car, was seized by authorities as part of a separate criminal investigation related to alleged misappropriation of state property brought from Artsakh during the mass displacement.

This was not Shahramanyan’s first encounter with law enforcement. Throughout 2025, he has been questioned multiple times in various criminal proceedings. He was also summoned during the summer in another investigation, and prior to that, had been interrogated in six different instances.

Shahramanyan is also under scrutiny in a case related to alleged negligence and the surrender of ammunition during Azerbaijan’s military offensive in September 2023. That case was initiated based on a report by former Artsakh Security Council Secretary Samvel Babayan.